Gutter discharges too close to the home!
GET GOING WITH YOUR GUTTERS!
With all the rain we've had recently, and with more certainly on the way, now is the time to pay attention to an extremely important component of your home, gutters! The following necessary actions are normally very easier to perform, and also very inexpensive.
Fall is upon us, and with its beautiful days and crisp nights comes something else most of us would just as soon forget, leaves. Now is the time to make sure your gutter system is functioning properly. I have seen first hand over the last couple of weeks, homes I've inspected where multiple problems have been found regarding gutters and in a few instances, these problems have been the direct cause of mositure and water penetration in the basements of these particular dwellings.
Lets make a quick list of things you need to do this week. First, be safe! If you do not feel safe getting up on a ladder to clean your gutters, than hire someone who does. Next, make sure that all the gutters and downspouts are properly pitched, secured and in working order. For those of you whose gutters discharge below grade, this will include making sure the downspout is properly within the connector leading underground. Then you want to make sure that your gutters discharge far enough away from your home, at least 5-7 feet away. This last tip is imperative, is often neglected and is one situation where MORE IS DEFINITELY BETTER! Discharging your gutters even further away from the house usually ensures even greater protection from water infiltration. Those little splash blocks you can buy just about anywhere are only nominally effective, in most cases. First of all they're usually are too short in length, secondly, unless they're a heavier type, they have a tendacy to move around, crack or get altered very easily. Some really light ones can actually blow away in the autumn breeze! Do yourself a favor and don't cheap out here! Get extra downspout material, black corregated piping or even PVC.One last thing, make sure your discharge locations aren't near driveways or walking paths, because you could end up slipping, especially at this time of the year, on some ice that formed overnight in these areas.
Don't be caught unprepared! There is a direct correlation between improperly installed, maintained and functioning gutters and wet basements / crawlspaces! Proper grading is also crucial, but that topic is for another day. For now, use the means given you to properly channel and control the water around your home. Remember the old saying, "WATER WINS!"
With all the rain we've had recently, and with more certainly on the way, now is the time to pay attention to an extremely important component of your home, gutters! The following necessary actions are normally very easier to perform, and also very inexpensive.
Fall is upon us, and with its beautiful days and crisp nights comes something else most of us would just as soon forget, leaves. Now is the time to make sure your gutter system is functioning properly. I have seen first hand over the last couple of weeks, homes I've inspected where multiple problems have been found regarding gutters and in a few instances, these problems have been the direct cause of mositure and water penetration in the basements of these particular dwellings.
Lets make a quick list of things you need to do this week. First, be safe! If you do not feel safe getting up on a ladder to clean your gutters, than hire someone who does. Next, make sure that all the gutters and downspouts are properly pitched, secured and in working order. For those of you whose gutters discharge below grade, this will include making sure the downspout is properly within the connector leading underground. Then you want to make sure that your gutters discharge far enough away from your home, at least 5-7 feet away. This last tip is imperative, is often neglected and is one situation where MORE IS DEFINITELY BETTER! Discharging your gutters even further away from the house usually ensures even greater protection from water infiltration. Those little splash blocks you can buy just about anywhere are only nominally effective, in most cases. First of all they're usually are too short in length, secondly, unless they're a heavier type, they have a tendacy to move around, crack or get altered very easily. Some really light ones can actually blow away in the autumn breeze! Do yourself a favor and don't cheap out here! Get extra downspout material, black corregated piping or even PVC.One last thing, make sure your discharge locations aren't near driveways or walking paths, because you could end up slipping, especially at this time of the year, on some ice that formed overnight in these areas.
Don't be caught unprepared! There is a direct correlation between improperly installed, maintained and functioning gutters and wet basements / crawlspaces! Proper grading is also crucial, but that topic is for another day. For now, use the means given you to properly channel and control the water around your home. Remember the old saying, "WATER WINS!"
This water penetration in the basement is the direct result of gutters that don't discharge far enough away from a home!
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